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Furious MP vows to keep on fighting Horton plans
Good Samaritan tells of vicious attack as he went to help a woman being assaulted in town centre
‘My life is on hold’ By Samantha McGregor “IT’S every parents’ nightmare, a knock on the door at 4.30am asking does he live here and then informing us he has a head injury and we need to be taken to the hospital very quickly”. Those are the words of Kate Hayle whose son Sam Ganatra was brutally attacked after going to help a young woman who was being “man-handled” by her boyfriend. Warehouse assistant Sam had been on his way home from Bicester town centre on June 11 when police believe he may have played the good Samaritan to help the woman. But he was left collapsed and uncon-
scious in the Causeway with severe life-changing head injuries and found by passers-by who raised the alarm. Sam, 27, cannot remember the attack, which took place near the Church of the Immaculate Conception, but police have been able to piece together his movements using CCTV footage. His family have spoken out about their “horrific” ordeal to urge vital witnesses to come forward. Sam suffered a fracture at the base of his skull, broken eye socket, nose and cheek bones, a deflated lung and bleeding into the brain. A fracture on the front of his skull could not be repaired and he has had
surgery to replace it with metal plates. He has lost his sense of smell as a result of the attack. Sam will be under the care of the neurological team for the next 10 years. Kate said: “It has been my worst experience. He has been going out since he was 18, he’s never had any issues. He’s a quiet lad and never been in trouble with the police. “When we were eventually allowed to see him he was hooked up to a breathing machine, there were tubes and wires everywhere and blood was bubbling out of his eyes. “He was hit so hard it ripped the brain lining.” Sam has had his driving licence
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revoked, cannot be left alone and has been signed off work. Sam said: “It has put my life on hold. I can’t do anything – basically I can’t even walk to the shop as I’m not allowed to leave the house alone.” Kate said the family was urging anyone with information about the attack, to contact police. She said: “We understand they may be frightened, but they need to do the right thing. I can’t believe anyone would not help the police in putting this man behind bars.” A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of GBH and released on bail. Call police via 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
MP Victoria Prentis has urged her constituents ‘not to give up hope’ after the future of services at the Horton was confirmed last week. Recommendations for a permanent midwife-led maternity unit have been given the go ahead by Oxfordshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group. Results from a public consultation had shown the proposal “universally” rejected by residents, campaigners and politicians. North Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis said she was “furious” about the decision. She said: “The board’s decision to approve proposals in the Transformation Programme consultation comes as no surprise. I am furious. Public consultation has been meaningless.” Mrs Prentis added: “I urge my constituents not to give up hope. I remain absolutely committed in the fight to retain acute services at the Horton General Hospital.” See page 3 for full story
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